Missing Children Europe (MCE) developed the NotFound app in 2012. It is clearly explained at www.notfound.org Put simply, the app is applied to a website and if a 404 page is reached, for example by mis-typing or by finding an old page link left behind on social media, the page displayed shows a missing person appeal. It looks like this:
I have campaigned to see the app used more widely since it became available in 2013 as I believe it could help re-unite families with their missing loved ones at no cost to users. Andrew's website includes the app, as do others including our local South Yorkshire Police force, only the third in the UK to apply the app.
To see how the app works on Andrew's 404 page, keep refreshing this page Here
The app is recommended by the National Police Chiefs Council, the National Crime Agency and a number of European charities for the missing. Unfortunately, as yet, it is not active on most Police websites in the UK despite this.
MCE have therefore designated 25th September 2018 as Notfound Day, asking for our help in promoting use of the app. If anyone reading this blog is able to help, I believe we could make a difference by writing to or emailing our local Police forces, M.P.'s or anyone we know who manages a website of any kind. Perhaps our employer's would help if we make them aware: both my sister and I were successful when we asked our employer's if they would install the app.
Below is a suggested format which can be copied, pasted and amended as appropriate if you feel able to assist with the campaign.
To see how the app works on Andrew's 404 page, keep refreshing this page Here
The app is recommended by the National Police Chiefs Council, the National Crime Agency and a number of European charities for the missing. Unfortunately, as yet, it is not active on most Police websites in the UK despite this.
MCE have therefore designated 25th September 2018 as Notfound Day, asking for our help in promoting use of the app. If anyone reading this blog is able to help, I believe we could make a difference by writing to or emailing our local Police forces, M.P.'s or anyone we know who manages a website of any kind. Perhaps our employer's would help if we make them aware: both my sister and I were successful when we asked our employer's if they would install the app.
Below is a suggested format which can be copied, pasted and amended as appropriate if you feel able to assist with the campaign.
"Dear....
I am writing to draw your attention to the 404notfound app in the hope that you can add it to your website and help to re-unite missing children with their families. The website explaining this clearly is found here:
http://notfound.org/index.php?locale=en_GB
The app is entirely free to the user and takes no more than a few minutes to apply to a website, after which it can largely be ignored.
Use of the app has been recommended by Missing Children Europe, the UK charity Missing People, the National Crime Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Many website managers believe that there is no point in applying the app as they maintain their websites so well that they do not have 404 pages. However, a 404 page can still be reached by a web user making a typing error, or more commonly by old links being left behind on other sites and social media. I believe that across Europe, almost a billion of these missing adverts have been viewed by users reaching 404 pages, which gives some indication of the potential impact.
I would be really grateful if you would consider making this small addition to your website.
Yours sincerely,
I am writing to draw your attention to the 404notfound app in the hope that you can add it to your website and help to re-unite missing children with their families. The website explaining this clearly is found here:
http://notfound.org/index.php?locale=en_GB
The app is entirely free to the user and takes no more than a few minutes to apply to a website, after which it can largely be ignored.
Use of the app has been recommended by Missing Children Europe, the UK charity Missing People, the National Crime Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Many website managers believe that there is no point in applying the app as they maintain their websites so well that they do not have 404 pages. However, a 404 page can still be reached by a web user making a typing error, or more commonly by old links being left behind on other sites and social media. I believe that across Europe, almost a billion of these missing adverts have been viewed by users reaching 404 pages, which gives some indication of the potential impact.
I would be really grateful if you would consider making this small addition to your website.
Yours sincerely,
| | Thank you if you can find the time to help in this way. Perhaps you would also consider sharing posts and articles on social media on 25th September in addition. |
